PLEASE HELP!

Question

Hello all, this is my first time using an online support group. I have got my self into a to familiar place. I have been using pain medication (Norco 10/325) about 10-15 tabs a day for the past 1 1/2 yrs. I had used for 2 yrs previously but got clean for a year. I was looking for advice on how to detox myself at home. Mainly I just need support to get me through this. If anyone can help I would be extremely great full! PLEASE,PLEASE HELP! I did forget to mention I do have 2 subutex to help me through if needed. Not sure if this is the route I want to take though.

littlebit667 · Accepted Answer

Glad you got here!  I am not on as much as I used to be but wanted to give support.  I hope this helps!  Keep posting you will get more responses as everyone gets back on!  I was on about 10 hydro 10s a day at my top.  Could never taper, so went cold turkey!  

I kept telling myself...YOU HAVE the FLU!  It will be over and I will feel so much better.  My brain seemed to get that and settled down a little.  It is hard, but doable!  The Thomas Recipe (bottom of the page) under Health Pages will help.  I had to cut back on the Ltryosine, but the rest really helped.  Imodium, Imodium, Imodium (liquid or pills if the liquid can't be found or you can't swallow it) will help.  I took double the dosage for a few days (personal choice) and it helped so much..even with the withdrawals in general and the opiate trots which sucked.  

Hydrate and eat! ((gatorade is good) Even if it is just a little every hour or so.(boost or ensure might work for both food and drink)  You have to eat something to keep your energy up as much as possible.  

If you have Restless legs..it is hit or miss what works.  Walking seemed to help me some.  Hot bath with epsom salts..a little.  I finally had to get my doctor to refill my restless legs meds (non addictive) to get some sleep.  If nothing works,your doctor might help.  Benedryl or OTC Alteril helps some with sleep issues and you will have them.

One hour at a time is all anyone can ask.  After 2 weeks it gets a little better and I started to say, One day at a time!  Your brain will do all sorts of things to get you to take a pill.  I found if I was hungry..the cravings got worse.  I would try to eat a banana, a few grapes or a few crackers to get that under control.

The hardest part comes after the detox.  Your brain will be all over the place and will try to get you back on the pills...It is having to work and not depend on the pills to help.  

Good for you.  I hope all goes well.  You have made a good start coming here....this site has helped me so much!!!  Keep posting!!!!!

tbone352 · Answer

Thank you so much for the SUB info. I am going to go with what you said and start at a very low amount. For sure wait 24hrs before introducing it to my body. I cannot explain how great full I am that you responded to my post! Thank you for your time I will for sure be updating everyone on my progress. I WILL WIN THIS FIGHT!

07subiedude · Answer

I just got clean. Been a month now. Was taking 200-240 mg hydro a day. Suboxone helped me. I would just use 2 mg of sub. Go to.psychiatrist for help. I started with 8 mg per day of sub, then 4 and starting 2mg tomorrow. The sub can fight wd for 36 hrs. I take Wellbutrin as well. Its an anti depressant but acts more on dopamine and that's helped me a lot. I go 48 hrs between sub now have no cravings and more energy. Hang in there. Fight fight fight

littlebit667 · Answer

If you are going to taper.  You have to have enough pills to keep it up.  And that is the problem.  But, others have done it and it is definitely a good idea if you can.  The trick is to drop by small dose over a specific period.  You have to give your body time to adjust to the change.  We can't give taper info as everyone is different and there are medical considerations for each of us.  It has to be slow and steady.

weaver71 · Answer

I used subutex for 20 days and had relatively little withdrawal, especially since I was coming off high dose methadone. I don't think you will feel sub detox, but I'm not a doctor and they probably don't know either. I would still taper with it to get the maximum benefit. I'm assuming you have 2 - 8mg subutex. Look up COWS scale to learn about iduction. I took a little every half hour until I felt okay and started tapering down to .5 mg as soon as I stabilized. You can get a pill cutter at many stores or you can use scissors if you have film. If you taper before sub, I would start at a very low dose of sub, it will get you high. 1mg sub is approx. 40mg morphine. Half a pill or film is equal to 160mg of morphine, which is much stronger than hydro use. Keep that in mind. A tiny piece may be plenty. I would not recommend sub for hydro, but I want you to be informed if that is the choice you have made.

Ben727 · Answer

Hey. Totally agree with the feedback you've gotten so far. My personal opinion is that a taper only prolongs the WD and that I'd sooner cut off my little finger than take subox. Read that FAQ! I went CT after five years of about 50 10/325s a day, so I was on an extreme end of HC use (had to go back and change "am" to "was" just now, day 15 :) It can be done! Good luck sir!

tbone352 · Answer

OK guys so I started the ween cycle today. Man it's scary. Of course being the guy who want to know everything I googled some topics. People out there were saying you can DIE from O/P withdrawls. I know this is not the case being that I have come off a large MG of Presc Meds in the past. Very painful but not deadly. Like I mentioned in my previous post about having SUBUTEX. I do want to use this for the days when it gets very bad but am afraid of having to detox off that. I guess my question if any one out there knows can I use a 3 day SUBUTEX  and not withdrawl off it? Thanks again for all your responses I just want to live my life free of these chains!

tbone352 · Answer

Thank you guys so much! I was amazed you guys replied so quickly. I am going to try and get some sleep but will check first thing I wake up and update everyone. Thanks to all I can tell this support group is going to really help.

Pat1956100 · Answer

Hi I can't add anything to what everyone has told you. I just wanted to offer my support. Keep posting and asking questions whenever you have one. We will be happy to help you through it. You have made a great decision and you will receive lots of support here.

kyle505 · Answer

Welcome. I have no experience with subs; I've heard both good and bad about the med. Someone will be along to help ( although it's late.  Maybe tomorrow).  I did a cold turkey detox, off same meds as you, but I do have to bring up tapering. If you can taper the physical part of detox won't be as bad; it does draw out the mental battle. And you have to be able to use less and less over a set time period. 
No matter how you detox you need to do a couple of things - keep your body nourished. Lots of healthy food - carbs. When you get to the point where you can't eat try drinking Ensure.  If you're going to the bathroom a lot get drinks with electrolytes added. Get exercise as soon as you can. The hardest part of detox lasts about 4 or 5 days. If you work try to get a few days off. 
That's a very quick summary. Add vitamins when you can. Again, others will be here with more info. Once you detox then we need to talk about staying clean and the mental struggle. That's the hard part. 
Hundreds of us have detoxed and now live wonderful, clean lives. Keep posting.

weaver71 · Answer

The Thomas recipe minus valium, Magnesium Calcium Zinc, Immodium for stomach and general symptoms, Melatonin for sleep, and keep posting. It helped me to have AA/NA in place when I started as well. If you can taper down a little each week at get as low as possible before going cold turkey helps a lot as well. Exercise and lots of water. You have to drink water, even when you really don't want to. Just a few things to get you started. Then Post a lot, so we can walk you through day by day. Good luck and good decisions. 

I used subs, but tend say they are a last resort. Read the suborn/subutex FAQs at the right bottom of the page if you haven't already. Educate yourself. I personally would reserve subs for high dose powerful opiates.